App Center Gives One-Click Access to Canvas LMS Extensions

Instructure has formally launched a new tool that allows users to add third-party extensions to its flagship LMS, Canvas, with a single click.

The Canvas App Center, announced today at Instructure's user event, InstructureCon 2013, provides educators and students with access to several dozen apps — more than 100, as of this writing — including Dropbox, Evernote, Khan Academy, WordPress, and others. It includes search capabilities with recommendations based on the user's role, institution, and past installations, and allows users to rate and review those apps. Some of the software is free, some paid. Instructure does not take a piece of the action on the sale paid apps, according to the company.

Canvas is a learning management system currently used by some 6 million students and teachers in 440 educational institutions, according to information published by Instructure, including K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

David Nagel is edtorial director, education for 1105 Media's Public Sector Media Group. A 22-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.